China Carnival #9: Monk, Ninja, Enlightenment

Welcome to the 9th (December 21, 2009) edition of China Carnival. Before going into posts, I wish everyone a merry Christmas and happy new year!

We have 8 posts (new record high~ applauds) today. Fangfang, a new “China” blogger at chinasundae.com contributes two, one about some opinions on Han Buddhism and another about some travel tips. Our old friends Zhu, Chris, Katie and Richard continue to present their posts about Beijing, Martial arts, travel tips, and spirituality, respectively. Amber will show you how to become a China expert. Ottens shared his opinion on current Sino-US relationships.

Enjoy~

Culture

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Shaolin Martial Monk

Fangfang presents The Mysterious Chinese Monks posted at China Sundae, saying, “For people who don’t know much about Buddhism, it’s probably entertaining to see monks fly around and flight each other using Kung Fu skills. However, the true nature for Buddhist Temples are to help the people who are in needs. Shaolin Temple is recently being compared to another very traditional Buddhist Temple in China.”

Zhu presents The Forbidden City posted at Correr Es Mi Destino, saying, “Located right behind Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace of the Ming and the Qing dynasties (the last two ones).”

Other

Ottens presents Be nice to China posted at Atlantic Sentinel, saying, “In spite of the Obama Administration’s attempt to “reassure” China, Sinophobia continues to hamper what is bound to become the most defining geopolitical relation of the 21st century.”

Richard Shelmerdine presents How To Reach Enlightenment posted at Richard Shelmerdine, saying, “Contrary to popular belief, enlightenment is your natural state. In a sense there is no “effort” needed to become enlightened but more a “letting be”.”

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Amber Johnson presents 50 Open Courses to Make You an Expert on China posted at Online Schools, saying, “Whether or not you’re an international business or Chinese major, becoming an expert on China will undoubtedly help you prepare for the increasingly global economy of the future. From learning the language to understanding its history and relations with the U.S. and other countries, to studying its art and business culture, you can become an expert on China even without going back to school.”

Travel

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Fangfang presents 101 Things You SHOULD and SHOULD NOT Bring with You to China posted at China Sundae, saying, “I know it’s a long list and I don’t by any means encourage you to bring lots of stuff. Different things are important for different individuals. Use this list as a reminder so you don’t forget things. Remember always travel light, bring as little as possible, and save the space to bring lots of goodies back from China!”